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Subtle features

There are subtleties to map reading that take time to develop. Some common things to watch out for include:

Implied knoll
Implied knoll

A bump or small hill that is too small to generate it’s own closed loop contour. Occurs in places where two ridge lines diverge and converge or on the top of a hill where the contour lines are furthest apart.

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A bump or small hill that is too small to generate it’s own closed loop contour. Occurs in places where two ridge lines diverge and converge or on the top of a hill where the contour lines are furthest apart.


Implied saddle
Implied saddle

The opposite of an implied knoll. An implied saddle is a saddle that is not formed enough to have two parallel contours cross the ridgeline and connect.

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The opposite of an implied knoll. An implied saddle is a saddle that is not formed enough to have two parallel contours cross the ridgeline and connect.


Minor gully
Minor gully

A dent in the side of a slope or ridge often too high for a proper water course to form.

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A dent in the side of a slope or ridge often too high for a proper water course to form.


Minor spur or outcrop
Minor spur or outcrop

A bump on the side of a ridge or slope that’s too localised or flat to form a proper spur.

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A bump on the side of a ridge or slope that’s too localised or flat to form a proper spur.